Between Zero and 20,000 Limited Releases

September 19, 2014

The Zero Theorem poster

It's an overly busy week for limited releases with nearly two-dozen films on this week's list. There are a number of films on this week's list that are earning outstanding reviews, like 20,000 Days on Earth, or strong buzz, like The Zero Theorem. But there are not a lot earning both. Films like Stop the Pounding Heart or The Guest will likely not live up to their Tomatometer Scores. Tracks is probably the film with the best chance at breakout success.

20,000 Days on Earth - Reviews
This film is part documentary and part drama. It looks at a fictional day in the live of Nick Cave. It is earning some of the best reviews of the weekend and the buzz suggests it might earn some Awards Season accolades. 20,000 Days on Earth opened on Wednesday at the Film Forum in New York City.

Art and Craft - Reviews
A documentary about Mark Landis, one of the greatest art forgers of all time. He also suffers from schizophrenia and is driven to create his fakes. The reviews are fantastic, but it is a busy week and because this film is a documentary, it will likely fall between the cracks. Art and Craft opens tonight in two theaters in New York City with more exhibitions planned over the coming weeks. Check out the official site for more details.

Autumn Blood - Reviews
Two kids have to learn to live on their own when their mother dies. However, a group of hunters find them in the mountain woods where they live and rape the girl. The reviews are not good with most critics complaining it is exploitative and not an effective thriller. Autumn Blood opens tonight in theaters, as well as on Video on Demand.

Detained in the Desert - No Reviews
A drama about two people lost in the Arizona desert, one who is trying to illegally cross the border into the states and the other trying to stop illegal immigrants. There are no reviews and I'm not 100% sure it is coming out.

Don't Blink - No Reviews
I'm not sure this film is opening tonight. There are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and the official site is down. It is playing on Video on Demand and it likely will do much better on Video on Demand than in theaters, if it is playing in theaters.

Fort Bliss - Reviews
Staff Sergeant Maggie Swann has been away from her five-year old son for so long they no longer have a mother-son bond. She tries to reconnect when rumors of another deployment surface. Fort Bliss opens tonight in three theaters, in New York City; Los Angeles; and Fort Bliss, Texas, as well as on Video on Demand. Check out the official site for more details.

The Guest - Reviews
A family is still dealing with the death of their son, who was killed in Afghanistan. They are visited by David, who was their son's friend in the war. At first he seems like the perfect guest, but then people start dying. The film's reviews are amazing, but thrillers tend to not thrive in limited release. The Guest opens tonight in 19 theaters in select cities nationwide. Check out the official site for more details.

Hector and the Search for Happiness - Reviews
Simon Pegg stars as the titular Hector, a psychiatrist who decides he hasn't experienced enough of the world, which is why he can't help his patients become happy. The film has a great cast, but the reviews are terrible. Hector and the Search for Happiness opens tonight in four theaters, split evenly between New York City and Los Angeles.

Hollidaysburg - Reviews
A group of high school friends reunite when some of them return from their first break of college. There are not a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but both of them are positive. Unfortunately, the lack of buzz is probably going to be a bigger factor than the positive reviews are. Hollidaysburg opens tonight in New York City.

Iceman - Reviews
Donnie Yen stars as a Ming Dynasty guard who is falsely accused of murder. While on the run, he and the three brothers chasing him are trapped in an avalanche and frozen. 400 years later, they are thawed out and continue the fight, but also must adapt to the modern world. The film's budget more than doubled during production and many critics say you can tell there were problems by the quality of the end result. Iceman opens tonight in seven theaters in select cities.

Keep On Keepin' On - Reviews
A biography of Jazz legend Clark Terry who broke ground as the first black staff musician on The Tonight Show. The film focuses on his work as a mentor to a blind piano prodigy. The reviews are perfect so far, but there's only five of them, so that's not a representative sample. Additionally, documentaries rarely have breakout success, even compared to other limited releases. Keep On Keepin' On opens tonight in two theaters in Los Angeles and expands to New York City in two weeks. Check out the official site for more details.

Khoobsurat - No Reviews
A Bollywood film opening with no reviews. It is a remake of an 1980 Bollywood film of the same name, which is considered a bit of a classic, so I don't know how this one will compare. Khoobsurat opens tonight in the usual spots. Check out Now Running for more details.

Life's a Breeze - Reviews
I talked about this film here, but the release was pushed back. There's not much more than needs to be said, other than the reviews are weak and it will likely perform better on Video on Demand than in theaters. Life's a Breeze opens tonight in three theaters, as well as on Video on Demand. Check out the official site for more details.

Not Cool - No Reviews
A film starring and directed by Shane Dawson, who is best know for his work on YouTube. I'm not sure if this film will appeal to his YouTube fans, or anyone else, because there are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I'm also not sure his fans would bother going to the theater to see him, when they can see him on YouTube for free. Not Cool opens tonight in New York City and Los Angeles.

Pump! - Reviews
A documentary about America's dependence on oil, how this developed, and what to do about it. It is a very important subject, but the reviews are merely good, and not great. Additionally, documentaries rarely have breakout success in limited release. Pump! opens tonight in New York City and Los Angeles.

Reclaim - Reviews
A couple travel to Puerto Rico to adopt an orphan only to fall victim of a scam. When they try to find the child, they are kidnapped and held for ransom. This film has a good cast, but so far there are no positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Most critics are complaining that the script is simply too cliché to be engaging as a thriller. Reclaim opens tonight in select cities and on video on demand.

The Scribbler - Reviews
Katie Cassidy stars as Suki, a woman with multiple personalities. She is undergoing an experimental procedure that will burn away her alternate personalities until only her true self is left. However, she begins to wonder... What if Suki isn't her true personality, just one of many that will be burned away. It is an interesting setup, but the reviews are terrible. The Scribbler opens tonight at the Arena Cinema in Los Angeles.

Space Station 76 - Reviews
A spoof of a 1970s Sci-fi about a group of people, and robots, who run a space station. Personalities clash as an asteroid threatens to destroy the station. It is a fun setup and the cast is great, but the reviews are only mixed, which is usually fatal for a limited release. That said, it opens on Video on Demand on Tuesday and comes out on DVD on the 30th, so its theatrical run is an afterthought.

Stop the Pounding Heart - Reviews
A coming of age story set on a goat farm and focusing on a 14-year old girl who is one of a dozen kids home-schooled by their orthodox Christian family. Her orthodox upbringing is put to the test when she meets a boy. The reviews are excellent, but it is one of the smaller movies of the week and I think it will fall between the cracks. Stop the Pounding Heart opens tonight at the The Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center in New York City.

Swim Little Fish Swim - Reviews
A couple with a young child has to deal with changes when a young artist moves in with them. The reviews are good, but not great, and the competition is just too high. Swim Little Fish Swim opens tonight at the Cinema Village in New York City.

Tracks - Reviews
Mia Wasikowska stars in this real-life story of a woman who decides to walk across the Australian desert. The film's reviews are excellent and are perhaps strong enough to earn some Awards Season Buzz. Tracks opens tonight in four theaters, split evenly between New York City and Los Angeles.

Wheels - No Reviews
Two paraplegics deal with depression and addiction while deciding if suicide is the answer. There are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and there is a ton of competition for limited releases this week. Wheels opens tonight at the Crest Westwood in the Los Angeles area.

The Zero Theorem - Reviews
Terry Gilliam directs his most Brazil-like movie since Brazil. The film earned great pre-release buzz, but the overall reviews are weak. The biggest complaint seems to be it is too Terry Gilliam. If you like his style, you will like this movie. If you don't, stay far, far away. The Zero Theorem opens tonight in dozens of theaters, but it has also been playing on Video on Demand for a month. Check out the official site for more details.


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Filed under: Limited Releases, The Scribbler, , Tracks, The Zero Theorem, Life’s a Breeze, Hector and the Search for Happiness, Space Station 76, Stop the Pounding Heart, Reclaim, The Guest, Bing Fung: Chung Sang Chi Mun, Keep On Keepin’ On, Fort Bliss, Wheels, Pump, 20,000 Days on Earth, Autumn Blood, Art and Craft, Not Cool, Hollidaysburg, Swim Little Fish Swim, Khoobsurat, , Detained in the Desert, Katie Cassidy, Terry Gilliam, Michelle Monaghan, Simon Pegg, Mia Wasikowska, Donnie Yen, Dan Stevens, Shane Dawson, Nick Cave, Clark Terry